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Sushi, Room Service Among Charges on Village Credit Card

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Columbus – Village of Shreve (Wayne County) employees racked up unsupported charges for sushi and room service on a village credit card, according to an audit released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost.

“I hate sushi – but I especially hate it when the taxpayers pick up the tab,” Auditor Yost said. “It’s important to remember that every transaction has to give taxpayers a return on investment.”

The village lacked supporting documentation for $3,042 in purchases made with its credit card account during the period January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. Auditors determined that $2,773 of that amount was for a proper public purpose based on similar transactions and receipts for other purchases from the same vendors. However, $269 in charges from vendors including Kooma Sushi, Haruki East, Japanese Steakhouse and Double Tree by Hilton did not have supporting documentation. Additionally, the village paid $353 in late charges and interest during the audit period.

The audit also found that the village wrote ten checks totaling $1,815 to replenish its petty cash account. However, $792 of that amount lacked supporting documentation, $480 of which auditors determined was reasonable because it was for year-end employee bonuses that were approved in council meeting minutes. The remaining $312 had no documentation to support the expenses made using the village’s petty cash account. One of the unsupported checks totaling $111 was endorsed by the mayor.

Findings for recovery in the total amount of $823 were issued against former Fiscal Officer Jamie Greegor. An additional finding for recovery in the amount of $111 was issued against Mayor Bruce Biggs. Greegor and Biggs repaid the full amounts of the findings to the village’s general fund.

A year ago, the Village of Shreve was placed on the “unauditable” list because the village’s financial records were not adequate to complete the audit.

The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,800 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.